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The Editor's Desk

Posted: Tuesday, May 03, 2011

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MISSING MELISSA?: Since Executive Editor Melissa Hanna's announcement of her pending departure from the Banner-Herald, it's been my privilege to field emails expressing an understandable sadness at her decision to leave.

I must confess, however, to not knowing quite how to take one writer's sentiment with regard to missing Melissa's "extraordinary talent for turning single-syllable words into multi-syllable ones on 'Athens News Matters.' "

I'm assuming the writer was making some gentle fun of the syrupy, yet lilting Southern drawl that makes Melissa an unmistakable presence on the WUGA-FM (91.7/97.9) public affairs show - now airing at 3:30 p.m. Thursdays.

What the writer doesn't know is that Melissa is, in fact, the epitome of Southern womanhood.

The show is pre-recorded, and Melissa routinely comes to those tapings in Daisy Dukes, four-inch red heels and an "I'm With Stupid" T-shirt she bought about four boyfriends ago - which is to say sometime around the end of March.

Before taping starts, she's either stubbing out a cigarette or spitting out a wad of gum and looking for a recycling bin for her beer can.

So, yeah, we'll miss her around here, too.

► RECOMMENDED READING: Ever wonder if graffiti artists would paint on walls they own? A lengthy but worthwhile piece at reason.com by San Francisco-based writer Greg Beato provides an answer to that question, along with an entertaining history of graffiti.

Beato even makes the point that graffiti is better than social media, because its creators are guaranteed an audience. Find the piece at bit.ly/mpJZcT.

► EXTRA CREDIT: Is the left's attempt to interject a liberal view of Christianity into the political realm a losing strategy? Kansas City Star columnist Mary Sanchez explores that question in today's online-only commentary.